Now the Xbox app for Windows 10 is public, get ready for monthly updates

It's not something that's new, but we were reminded of it today, so that means it's worth reminding everyone else, too. During one of our multiple sit-downs with the Xbox team at Gamescom, Microsoft reiterated that the Xbox app for Windows 10 will see regular, monthly updates. Similar to the way the update schedule works for the Xbox One.

It also furthers indicates why having Xbox functionality on Windows 10 baked into an app, rather than the core operating system, is a good thing. Because it can be updated this often without having to go through the cycle of OS updates. Just the same as with the other core apps on Windows 10 like Mail, Calendar and so on.

On speaking with the Xbox PC team it's clear there's a massive buzz now that Windows 10 is out in the wild. We've already been given plenty at launch, with the headline act being the game streaming feature.

And before anyone asks, yes, Microsoft also acknowledged that they would like to be able to do PC to Xbox streaming. No doubt there's a ton of things that the team would like to do, but that doesn't mean it will be done. Xbox to PC streaming is much easier to accomplish with the controlled hardware of the Xbox One doing the heavy lifting. PC configurations, particularly for gaming, differ greatly.

And we shouldn't hold out many hopes for Kinect support with game streaming any time soon, either. Technically, we're told it's doable, but the experience is optimized for the overwhelming majority, and that's controller support. The sad truth is there just aren't enough Kinect dedicated games out there, and building it for those, like FIFA, that use it but are not reliant on it, is probably a drain on resources that could be better spent.

Reader comments

Now the Xbox app for Windows 10 is public, get ready for monthly updates

On a side note of this app, is anyone having issues of their xb1 forcing a login each time you turn it on? It happens to me and I'm very annoyed. I've set up the xb1 to auto login my profile, but still nothing. Is it because of this app???

This is what drives me nuts with MS. I DON'T want the XBox app ... end of story. Why MS won't allow me to uninstall it is maddening. I have Win10 on my tablet & really don't want to take up space with stuff I don't need. I wonder if MS will force these updates through WU or whether they are in the Store ... hope they are not forced as am on metered 4G Internet & would like to choose when I receive updates I don't want!

Streaming was working perfectly on my Insider PC pre "RTM" build. After RTM, my Insider PC and my Surface Pro 3 (updated to RTM straight from 8.1) can't sustain a stream for more than a few seconds. I'm not sure if it's the latest build on PC or the latest build (via the Preview program) on Xbox One but the feature is completely broken for me now.